It is very important that we know how to prevent teenage smoking as it’s usually this age in which people develop the habit of smoking. One of the most common addictions today, it’s also one of the most dangerous. Let’s see how we can take simple measures to prevent teenagers from becoming slaves to this habit.
Smokers never grow old because they die young. – Anonymous
Out of 10 lung cancer cases, 9 are a result of smoking. Shocking?! Well, yes. Should be. Smoking is highly underestimated an addiction today or rather has always been. The main reason for this is that it’s so common. Every day, we see hundreds of people smoking, near the station, on bus stands, at the subway and just about everywhere. Teenagers pick up this habit like it’s nobody’s business today. It’s very easy. You’re out of school (sometimes not) and you’re on your own now. Earlier, this habit was more of a fascination. Teenagers wanted to try it just once and unknowingly, they just got hooked onto it. Today, it’s just very normal to smoke. Not fascinating, no curiosity, just something that everyone does. The diseases caused by smoking are more in number and severity than we believe today. Let’s read more on the prevention of this addiction in the teenagers today.
How You Can Prevent Teenagers from Smoking
Cancers, impotence, lung diseases and cardiovascular diseases are dangers you can’t avoid if you smoke. There are people who aren’t affected, but these are few. The ones that are, are much more than we assume. Along with these, you can also fall prey to the short term effects of smoking such as shortness of breath, wrinkles, early aging and bad breath. Avoid these problems, prevent smoking in time.
In the Syllabus
Even today, in some parts of the world, talking to children about smoking is considered a taboo. An addiction that is so widely spread, needs to be spoken about more openly. The dangers of smoking should be included in school itself. Known fear is always better than the unknown dangerous. Even today, hardly any smokers are aware of all the dangers that cigarette smoking can cause. If not in the syllabus, schools should hold compulsory lectures for all grades to educate them about the possible dangers of smoking.
Awareness
Awareness needs to be caused in more different ways than the one mentioned above. This counseling can be done, at the best level, by the parents. Parents need to understand the grave issue at hand if their child is a smoker and inculcate the option of quitting in him/her on time. For preventing it, there should be awareness in colleges in the form of lectures and more information on every cigarette packet. Pamphlets should be distributed to every household equipped with information about the diseases that active and passive smoking can cause.
Campaigns
One campaign, marathon and drive for awareness of smoking ill effects can help a lot of people quit and if not quit, at least think of quitting as an option. Schools and colleges should ask their students to hold such campaigns. Marathons should be held in every city as a ritual on a particular day. If a lot is done about smoking, teenagers will think twice about smoking. They will understand that in a way that there must be something worthwhile in giving up this habit.
Stricter Laws
There need to be stricter laws in respect to smoking in public places. Smoking should be banned from all public places. This will help in making people understand that smoking is not as normal as it seems to be and will also in a way reduce active and more importantly passive smoking. The fines for smoking in these banned places should be increased. Unless such steps are taken, there won’t be complete understanding at all. Also, it should be made compulsory to check identity and age proof before selling cigarettes.
The world sees many deaths due to smoking, every hour, every second. The harmful health effects of smoking are just too many to ignore. Since you now know how to prevent teenage smoking, you can go ahead and do your bit to curb the dangers of this habit. Awareness is something that is easily spread and if nothing else, you can do just that. Teenagers are children and they will learn what we teach them. I hope this article helped cause some awareness regarding the dangers of smoking and how it can be prevented.
